Countermarked "'Adl i-Ali"  ("coin of 'Ali") on both sides on an anonymous civic fals from the mint of Balkh. 25mm, 4.62 grams. Zeno #337484 (this coin).

Sultan 'Ali abu'l Muzaffar ruled Bukhara from 1494 to 1499 and Samarqand from 1497 to 1499. The countermark must have been applied in either one of these two cities.

Very nice clear undertype and a partially readable countermark (the name 'Ali is clear on both sides). There are rare tankas countermarked in the name of 'Ali, the copper coins have not been reported yet.

From AH 818 until AH 905, all Central Asian mints were under Timurid control, and all came under Shaybanid authority during the following few years. The post-Shahrukh Timurid copper coinage and all Shaybanid copper coinage was anonymous and best regarded as civic coinage. Many of the coins circulated until worn flat and then countermarked, usually with the name of the countermarking mint. Sometimes the countermarks were applied at different mints. Most Central Asian coppers were somewhat carelessly struck, often with considerable areas of flatness. Unfortunately, no thorough reference catalog of the series has yet been undertaken.